Loom temple with thread parting means



March 15, 1960 p, w, POOLE EI'AL 2,928,431

LOO" TEMPLE WITH THREAD PARTING MEANS I l i 2 19 f'z'g' .4 16 22 21msuumou 23 INVENTORS 15 DAVID W. Poou;

i agxwz ATTORNI' Y United States Patent LOOM TEMPLE WITH THREAD PARTINGMEANS David Wilson Poole and Frank lx, Jr., Charlottesville, Va.

Application February 13, 1958, Serial No. 714,996

9 Claims. (Cl. 139-266) The present invention pertains, in general, toautomatic filling replenishing looms for weaving cloth from textilethreads, and, more particularly, it relates to a novel thread partingmeans in association with a loom temple for disjoining or parting closeto the cloth selvage edge the trailing ends of the ingoing and outgoingfilling threads left projecting outwardly from such selvage of the clothfollowing each replenishment of the filling thread supply in the shuttleduring normal loom operation.

Temples provided with thread cutting mechanisms commonly are employed onmost all automatic textile fabric weaving looms which incorporate bobbintransfer mechanisms to replenish the filling thread supply automaticallyin the shuttle during the loom operation. Also, it is usual for suchthread cutting mechanisms to be carried by the temple unit which isdisposed adjacent the cloth selvage at which replenishment of thefilling supply occurs. In most all such prior temples, the threadsevering operation is effected by the cooperation of relatively fixedand movable cutter blades mounted on the temple head and arranged to cutoff close to such selvage edge of the cloth the trailing ends of thefilling threads which are existent from the exhausted and the freshbobbins after transfer and replenishment of the filling thread supply inthe shuttle has been effected. In practice, these previous cuttingmechanisms have been principally of the continuously-operating sheartype and they are caused to operate once at each beat-up movement of theloom lay so that most of the operations of the cutting blades are idle,or useless, since the formation of filling ends to be cut and leftprojecting from the cloth selvage is a relatively infrequent occurrence.This is because the presence or absence of filling ends is determined bythe duration of the filling supply on the thread package in use beforeit becomes exhausted and transfer to a fresh filling package takesplace.

Continuously-operating shear type temple thread cutters, however, areunsatisfactory inasmuch as the cutting blades quickly become worn to asufficient extent to render them dull and inoperative so that the threadends often are caught between and jam the cutter blades instead of beingcut OE and then are torn away from the cloth selvage through movement ofthe fabric as it advances during take-up.

It is, accordingly, one object of the present invention to obviate thedefects mentioned above and inherent with shear-type temple threadcutters for automatic filling replenishing looms, and further to providean improved temple thread parter which is devoid of a shear type cuttingmechanism and employs, instead, a so-called hot wire electricalresistance heater wire element mounted on the temple head andoperatively disposed to disjoin or part the outwardly projecting endportions of the filling threads close to the cloth selvage by a burningoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel electrical switchmeans arranged to be controlled by the thread, end portion to be cutwhereby the calefacient 2,928,431 Patented Mar. 15, 1960 "ice operatingportion of said hot wire thread parting means normally shall remainunheated during most of the loom operating cycle, but will becomeactivated immediately after each filling replenishment, and for a fewpicks after the change of filling, at which time it shall be brought toa heated state at a temperature effective to disjoin the filling threadsas the result of actuation-of said electrical switch means by appliedpressure from contact with the straightened and held end of a fillingthread to be separated at the cloth selvage and left ex tendingoutwardly therefrom after a filling transfer and replenishmentoperation.

Further and additional objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the invention.

The invention now will be described in detail by reference to onespecific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figuresof drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, as viewed from the front, of a temple headassembly incorporating a hot wire" thread parting device embodying thefeatures of the present invention and depicting the parts disposed inoperating position with respect to a woven fabric for effectingseparation of the outwardly disposed trailing end of a filling threadthereof close to a selvage edge of the fabric;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail through the temple head, taken onthe line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, showing part of theforward end portion of the temple head assembly shown in Fig. 1embodying the hot wire parting device of the present invention, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, of the temple headassembly shown in Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof and viewed inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one form the hot wire" may take.

The loom temple to which the present invention has been applied, forpurposes of illustration only, is of a conventional design except wheremodified to incorporate and cooperate with the novel form of threadparting means embodying the features of the present invention.

As illustrated in the drawings, and with reference in particular toFigs. 1 and 2 thereof, the loom temple structure there shown may be of ageneral type, such as, for example, that illustrated in US. Patent No.2,336,591, with or without the screw adjustment of that patent for vertcally adjusting the temple cap member, and comprises the usual templehead assembly which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10and carried at the forward or outer end portion of the usual slidemember or bar 12. The opposite end portion of the bar 12, extendingrearwardly from the temple head assembly 10, is housed in the customarysupporting spring stand 13 which is suitably afiixed to the usual breastbeam (not shown) of a loom.

The temple head assembly 10 includes the usual laterally-extendingoffset lower base portion 14 with the pod element 15 which is supportedby the forward end of the bar 12 and may be integral therewith, a templetop member or cap 16, and a flat-sided top end block 17. The top endblock 17 is fixedly secured to the pod carrying base portion 14 by meansof the usual top screw 18. The temple top member or cap 16 is attachedto the top end block 17 by means of suitable cap screws 19 which havescrew threaded connection to the block 17 and pass through suitableelongated openings (not shown) in an upstanding flat-sided flange 20integral with the temple cap 16.

Housed between the temple pod and cap members 15 and 16 respectively androtatably mounted upon the 3 usual roll pins 21 are a plurality of thecustomary temple rolls 22 of any preferred construction, one only beingshown in Figs. 1 and 4 and having the spiral grooved type ofconstruction.

The pod carrying base 14 of the temple head may be provided with theusual depending heel 23 by which the temple head assembly including itssupporting slide member or bar 12 are reciprocated relative to thespring stand 13 and adapted to be engaged by the loom lay, in-

dicated in broken outline at 24 in Figure 2, during for-' ward movementof the lay as the filling F is heat up into the fell of the cloth C bythe loom reed 25, also depicted in broken outline in Figure 2, duringnormal loom operation.

The loom temple structure as thus far described is of known constructionand, as above-stated, has the general form of construction disclosed inthe above-mentioned US. Patent No. 2,336,591, dated December 14, 1943.

The novel thread parting instrumentality of the present invention ismounted and functions on an anterior portion of the temple head assembly10.

The thread parting means in the form which is here chosen to exemplifythe present invention includes an electrical resistance heater wire orso-called hot wire" element 26, an electric switch generally designatedby the reference numeral 27 having series connection electrically withthe heater wire element 26, as will be presently described. Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, the

heater wire 26 consists of a short length of electrical resistance wire,such as, for example, a resistance alloy marketed under the name ofNichrome wire or of other standard resistance alloy used for heaters andelectrical appliances, bent into a generally U-shaped body of which theterminal ends are further bent into annular loops or eyes 28 and 29which project in opposite directions from said legs and are disposed ina common plane substantially normal to the axes of both legs of theU-loop body part.

The top end block 17 has a slot 30 extending therethrough from front torear and coextensive with the front face of the block 17. Disposed overand covering the front entrance opening of this slot are three flatplate members 31, 32 and 33 positioned vertically one in front of theother, and each formed of a conventional electrical insulating materialin sheet form. The electric heater wire 26 has its linear calefacientoperating portion or base of its U-bend disposed vertically andprojecting forwardly of the outer plate 31 in substantial alinement withthe inside face of the top end block 17, and the heater wire element isattached to the front face of the latter by means of suitable bolts 34and 35. The upper shank portion of the bolt 34 passes first through theterminal eye 28 of the heater wire 26 and thence through suitable alinedholes in the plates 31, 32 and 33 to project well into the cavity 30where a nut 36 threaded onto this inner end portion of said bolt fixedlysecures thereon in electrical connection therewith a standard solderinglug type terminal connector 37 electrically connected with one end of anelectric connector wire 38 which has its other end connected to asuitable source of electric current (not shown). Similarly, the bolt 35has its upper shank portion passing through the lower 1 terminal eye 29and a suitable hole in the front plate 31 to project into a cavity 39where a nut 40 threaded onto the inner end portion of this boltclampingly connects the latter to one end of an electrically conductivestrip member 41. This strip member extends laterally of the block and iscontained in a suitable groove 42 in the front face of the plate 32thereby fixedly securing the lower end of the heater wire 26 inelectrically conductive relationship therewith. The other end of theconductive strip member 41 is secured to and connected electrically bymeans of soldering, as indicated at 42', to the back end of a fixedbutton-type contact element 43 of the electric switch 27.

able with the latter to make and break the electric cir-. cuit uponappropriate flexing movement of the tip of the armature toward or fromthe contact element 43. The armature member 44 is of generally L-shapedformation having a short lateral arm 46 at its upper end from whichdepends a longer arm 47 at the lower end of which and to the rear facethereof is secured the contact element 45. The armature member 44 isafiixed to the front face of the top end block 17 by means of suitablescrews 48 the shanks of which pass through suitable holes (not shown) inthe lateral arm 46 and have screw threaded connection in the top endblock thereby 616C.

trically connecting the armature member therewith to complete theelectrical circuit with the loom frame which is appropriately groundedto the source of electric cur-.

rent supply.

The operation of the parting device is as follows: Temple action issimilar to that in all conventional looms and so long as there are noends to be cut the contact 45 remains spaced from contact 43 and wire26, of course, remains comparatively cool. However, upon replenishmentof filling there will be two ends, that left by the outgoing bobbin andthat running from the battery to the selvage where the incoming fillinghas been introduced, which must be parted. Just as in the case where ascissors type cutter is employed, these ends do not encounter the switchblade 27 until a few picks (two to eight, for example) after transfer.These ends may and preferably do engage the wire 26 before they contactthe switch, but the wire is then comparatively cool so no parting actiontakes place.

As soon as enough fabric has been woven after transfer, the ends advancetoward the front of the loom until they depress the switch makingcontact to complete the circuit through wire 26 which more or lessinstantly glows or, at least, becomes sufficiently hot to burn or meltthe threads depending upon the nature of the filling being woven. Oncecontact is made, the switch is held in,

Stafford cutter and to the battery may be disposed of in any desiredmanner.

It is to be understood that the term parted as used herein includesburning as in the case of wool or cotton, melting or otherwise reducingthe thread to a liquid state as in the case of several syntheticfilaments or the like.

Thus, there has been provided in accordance with the;

present invention a temple thread parter or selvage trimming devicewhich eliminates the need for shear-type cutting blades and other movingparts which characterized the aforementioned prior temple thread cuttingmechanisms and subjectto rapid wearing action, and replacement. The hotwire" heater element will be in operation only a very small part of thetime the loom is functioning and only when there is a filling threadexistent at the cloth selvage and in position to forcibly depress theswitch armature and engage the switch contact elements to close theelectric circuit through the electrical resistance wire heater elementof the device. Also, it is quiet when in use.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept scribed, but is intended toembrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic filling replenishing loom having means for weavingcloth from textile threads, and a temple disposed adjacent the clothselvage at which replenishment of the filling thread supply occurs, thecombination therewith of an electric thread parting device carried bysaid temple and interposed in an electrical circuit, said thread partingdevice comprising a thread parting member consisting of an electricalresistance heater wire, and electric switch means carried by said templeand operatively arranged to be activated by pressure applied to it byfirm engagement with a filling thread to be parted for electricallyenergizing said heater wire to heat the latter to a temperatureetfective to part a held filling thread engaged therewith.

2. In an automatic filling replenishing loom having means for weavingcloth from textile threads, and a temple disposed adjacent the clothselvage at which replenishment of the filling thread supply occurs, thecombination therewith of an electric thread parting device carried bysaid temple and interposed in an electrical circuit, said thread partingdevice comprising a thread parting member consisting of an electricalresistance heater wire having a linear calefacient operating portiondisposed in a vertical plane and mounted from the temple in an'operatingposition in advance thereof to be effective for parting engagement closeto the selvage edge of the cloth adjacent said temple of the ingoing andoutgoing filling threads which are existent in the cloth from anexhausted bobbin and a fresh bobbin and left projecting from suchselvage edge and held taut immediately after transfer and replenishmentof the filling thread supply has been effected during normal loomoperation, and electric switch means carried by said temple andoperatively arranged to be activated by firm engagement with a fillingthread to be parted for effecting electrical energization of said heaterwire to heat the latter to a temperature effective to part a heldfilling thread engaged therewith.

3. A loom temple including a temple head, and thread parting meanscarried by said temple head comprising a thread parting memberconsisting of an electrical resistance heater wire, and electric switchmeans carried by said temple head and connected electrically to saidheater wire, said switch means being operatively arranged to beactivated by pressure engagement with a firmly drawn filling thread tobe parted for effecting electrical energization of said heater wire toheat the operating portion of the latter to a temperature effective topart a filling thread engaged therewith.

4. A loom temple including a temple head, and thread parting meanscarried by said temple head comprising a thread parting memberconsisting of an electrical resistance heater wire having a linearcalefacient operating portion disposed in a vertical plane and mountedfrom the temple head at an operating position in advance thereof to beeffective, when said temple is in its normal operating position, forparting engagement with a firmly drawn filling thread end projectingfrom a cloth selvage edge to part such thread end close to such selvageedge. and electric switch means carried by said temple head andconnected electrically to said heater wire, said switch means beingoperatively arranged to be activated by pressure engagement with afirmly drawn filling thread to be parted for efl'ecting electricalenergization of said heater wire to heat the linear calefacientoperating portion of the latter to a temperature effective to part afilling thread engaged therewith,

5. A loom temple structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said electricswitch means comprises a stationary electrical contact element insulatedfrom said temple head and connected electrically to one end of the saidelectrical resistance heater wire, and a movable armature member to bemoved into electric circuit closing position when appropriately flexedby pressure engagement with an existent filling thread in which saidarmature member is in the form of a flexible strip of electricallyconductive metal having an arm at one end fulcrumed to and connectedelectrically with'a frontal portion of the temple head, and anelectrical contact element connected electrically with said armaturestrip member and atfixed thereto near its free end for movement bodilytherewith, said movable contact element also being disposed inconfronting relationship to said stationary contact element and to beengageable with the latter for making and breaking the electric circuitthrough said heater wire upon appropriate flexing movement of the tip ofsaid armature member toward or from the stationary contact element dueto the presence or absence of a filling thread in situ against saidarmature member, the other end of said heater wire being arranged forconnection to a source of electric current.

6. A loom temple structure as claimed in claim 4 in.

which the electrical resistance heater wire is of generally U-shapeformation and the base thereof constitutes the linear calefacientoperating portion having disposition in a vertical plane.

7. A temple thread parting means for use with a temple having a supportmeans and upper and lower pod members and means functioning therewithfor retaining the forming fabric in laterally extended condition, whichcomprises a current carrying resistance member supported in position atsaid support means adjacent the selvage of a fabric held by said templeto be engaged by ends of filling left extending from said selvage aftera replenishing cycle, and means actuable after said replenishing cyclefor a relatively few picks during weaving to complete a circuit throughsaid resistance member.

8. For an automatic loom, a temple for retaining the forming fabric inlaterally extended condition and a thread parting means interposed in anelectrical circuit in combination therewith which comprises aninsulating support means carried by said temple outwardly of andadjacent the selvage of a fabric held by said temple, a current carryingwire member fixed on said support means adapted to be engaged by ends offilling projecting outwardly from said selvage after a replenishingcycle, and switch means in said electrical circuit operatively arrangedto be actuated by pressure applied against it by filling threads to beparted.

9. For an automatic loom, the combination of a temple for retaining theforming fabric in laterally extended condition and a thread partingmeans interposed in an electrical circuit, said parting means comprisingan insulating support means carried by said temple outward ly of andadjacent the selvage of a fabric held by said temple, a heater wireelement fixed on said support means adapted to extend transversely ofthe path of filling ends which project outwardly from said selvage aftera replenishing cycle, and switch means in said electrical circuitoperatively arranged to be actuated by pressure applied against it byfilling threads to be parted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

